“Place of the snake of fog,” they called it long ago. That’s what Coatlayauhcan means. Today, we know it as San Pablo de las Salinas.
San Pablo de las Salinas stands as the second-largest town in the Tultitlán municipality. It’s a vibrant part of the Mexico City metropolitan area. In 2010, San Pablo de las Salinas had a population of 189,453. That was over 36% of Tultitlán’s population!
The town lies near Mexico City’s northern tip. San Pablo de las Salinas is the third-largest locality in Mexico without being a municipal seat.
Granjas San Pablo began in 1957. Don Antonio Lopez-Araiza y Padilla and his wife Consuelo Villegas de Araiza were the first family. Their daughters Guillermina, Nancy, and Abel, along with sons Antonio and Carlos, were among the first residents.
Like other “de las Salinas” neighborhoods, this area started as a saltworks. It was on the ancient north lakeshore. San Pablo de las Salinas once depended on Tlatelolco. Later, it became subject to the Villa de Guadalupe during the colonial period.
Nearby, you’ll find the Santa María Magdalena de las Salinas church. It retains its original main altarpiece. The altarpiece has Solomonic-style columns. It frames oil paintings and sculptures. They depict the Passion of Christ.
Magdalena de las Salinas once had 14 neighborhoods. These included Tula, Huautla, and Texacoac. Modern Mexico City colonias emerged from these ancient divisions.
A small Franciscan chapel marked the beginning in the 16th century. It evolved into the church we see today. The large atrium hints at its past use for outdoor mass and evangelization. It was likely much larger long ago.
In the 18th century, Rome secularized many religious properties. They became regular parish churches. Some of this church’s archives moved to the Parish of Santa Ana then.
San Pablo de las Salinas has evolved considerably. The town extends far east. It reaches Avenida Insurgentes Norte and the Encuentro Fortuna shopping center.
San Pablo de las Salinas has transformed over the centuries. From saltworks to a sprawling town, it remains a vital part of the Mexico City area. Its history echoes in its streets, its people, and even its name.